Best gift for child you don't know

[Allme501]

So we have started to get invited to birthday parties through nursery for children we don't really know.

I don't feel obligated to go or take a gift, I want to do both but obviously it's tricky as I don't know them and I don't want to keep the price fairly minimal. They are all turning 4.

What are your go to gifts for these occasions?

The Velveteen rabbit is a gorgeous present. I read something in the Guardian which said: present for child under ten = book, child over ten = money in a card which I thought sounded sensible. Books are fab and if they already have it they can exchange it regift it.

Dint worry too much though, any little thing will be warmly received.

I would avoid clothes and stick with things that can be brought out to entertain on a rainy day (a lot
of people hold back and stagger birthday presents)

my go to gifts are : sticker books from flying tiger, a book, playdoh, mixed craft kit (feathers / pipe cleaners etc)

for older kids a small
lego set or a £10 gift voucher for local cafe

I would worry if they already have something as it will just get regifted at next party!

A craft kit or dominoes

Parties here were always organised over WhatsApp, then everyone gave the parents €5 which went towards one big gift, or two decent gifts, that the parent knew would go down well. So little faff!

Otherwise I'd go down the Playmobil route or some kind of fancy dress accoutrements - unicorn hat, knights helmet, chicken mask - that sort of silly thing.

Kite 🪁 and you can get them from Amazon fairly decent for around £7

i get small pocket type to pop in boot or pockets for when out with the children

Some kind of craft/making kit from the works. I usually buy 5 or so whenever I see something appropriate on sale, then use then for the next batch of invites over he 'class party' years (roughly 4-6 round here)

Pp suggestion of a kite it’s great. Dressing up stuff also goes down well, flying tiger and tk maxx usually have good inexpensive options

This thread is a very sweet early moment in a story that goes as follows-

1-So we have started to get invited to birthday parties through nursery for children we don't really know.

Spends hours finding the perfect gift, neither too personal nor too generic

2- six months later

Goes to The Works and buys 20 of whatever craft kit is on offer. Thinks “that’s the next 20 parties sorted, lovely”

3- three months later

Seven of those craft kits come boomeranging back at your child’s party from disorganised re-gifters. Thinks “that’s the next seven parties sorted, lovely “

If you are in the stage of a party every other weekend buy multipacks of books from somewhere like thebookpeople (I think they trade under a different name now), multi pack of Play DOH, box of colouring pencils and a colouring book. Stick one of each into a party bag with tissue paper with a bag of Haribos. Job done and you can make several bags up which is suitable for all children.